Statutes and Legal Terms

1. Trespassing - Florida Statute (810.097), trespassing upon grounds or facilities of a school is considered any person who does not have legitimate business on campus, or any other authorization, license or invitation to enter or remain upon school property; or is a student currently under suspension or expulsion.

2. Burglary - Florida Statute (810.02), burglary is considered entering a dwelling, a structure, or a conveyance with the intent to commit an offense therein, unless the premises are at the time open to the public or the defendant is licensed or invited to enter or remain.

3. Criminal Mischief - Florida Statute (806.13), a person commits the offense of criminal mischief if he or she willfully and maliciously injures or damages by any means any real or personal property belonging to another, including but not limited to, the placement of graffiti thereon or other acts of vandalism thereto.

4. Arson - Florida Statute (806.01), arson is any person who willfully and unlawfully, or while in the commission of any felony, by fire or explosion, damages or causes to be damaged any dwelling, or its contents whether occupied or not or any structure or contents.

Categories and Motivations

CATEGORIES

Nuisance break-ins ~ occur when youth break into a school building, seemingly as an end in itself. They cause little if any serious damage and usually take nothing of value.

Professional break-ins ~ when offenders use a high level of skill to enter the school, break into storage rooms containing expensive equipment and remove bulky items from the scene. They commit little incidental damage and may receive a lot of money from the stolen goods.

Malicious break-ins ~ take place when offenders cause significant damage to the school's interior this may include arson. Offenders sometimes destroy rather than steal items of value.

POSSIBLE MOTIVATIONS

Acquisitive Vandalism - committed in order to obtain property money.

Tactical Vandalism - used to accomplish goals such as getting school cancelled.

Ideological Vandalism - is oriented toward a social or political protest against school rules.

Vindictive Vandalism - such as setting fire to the principal's office after being punished, these are done in order to get revenge.

Play Vandalism - transpires when youth intentionally damage property during the course of play.

Malicious Vandalism - is used to express rage or frustration. Because of its viciousness and apparent senselessness, people often find this particularly difficult to understand.

Main entrances not secured by grills or gates when school is closed and secondary entrances with removable exterior door hardware.

Unsecured windows and skylights.

Large, smooth, light-colored walls which are prime graffiti targets. Rooftops accessible from the ground, from nearby trees or from other rooftops which can allow access to damageable equipment and hardware.

How to Help Prevent Vandalism and Break-Ins

• Controlling Access to Deter Unauthorized Entry - Gates, deadbolt locks on doors and windows, door and window shutters, and doors that open from the inside are effective means of securing school buildings.

• Posting Warning Signs - Access-control signs are an important part of rule setting in that they establish the types of activities prohibited both during and after school hours, and notify potential intruders that they are under surveillance.

• Storing Valuables in Secure Areas - Store high-value audio-visual equipment and computers in rooms equipped with high quality locks, if stored in the inner section of the building it makes them harder to access.

• Inscribing Valuables with Identifying Marks - It is harder to sell stolen goods that have permanent identifying marks on them. Engraving, stenciling, or using permanent marker to imprint the school’s name, logo, or seal can avert intruders who intend to sell the equipment.

• Obstructing Vandals through Physical Barriers - target-hardening measure such as using stronger finishes and materials, or placing objects out of reach or in an enclosure, makes it harder to damage property. These can also include toughened glass or glass substitutes, fire retardant paint, concrete or steel outdoor furniture, tamper proof hardware, and door hinges with non-removable pins.

• Improving Opportunities for Natural Surveillance - the likelihood that school staff, residents, and pedestrians going about their daily activities will spot an intruder depends on the visibility of the school grounds. Clear sight lines in key locations, such as entrances, parking lots, hallways, and playgrounds, maximize the ability of residents and passersby to observe activity in vulnerable areas.

• Maintaining Inventory of Valuable Equipment - missing equipment sometimes goes unreported because school officials do not know what they have and therefore do not know when it has been stolen. Diligent inventory checks can not only help in maintaining control of school assets, but can also help in preparing loss estimates if property is stolen.